Carmella Commands
“How long before we’ll be able to do that?” she asked.
“Not so long. I got a few things to learn yet.”
“I’ll help you,” said Carmella.
“But you won’t always be in the contracting business, kid,” he said.
“What’ll I be doing?”
“You’ll be going to school first, and then you’ll be cooking sausage and making beds and spanking babies and all that sort of thing.”
“But I’ll do outside work too. Mrs. Barrington keeps house and does. I’ll always be interested in contracting.”
“Mrs. Barrington didn’t spank her kids enough and she did too much outside work,” said Dixon. “But you’ll be different.”
“I hope to God I’ll be different from Mrs. Barrington. But I’ll always be interested in contracting, whether it’s dad, or—or anyone.”
“You’re going to high school next fall, aren’t you, kid?” he suddenly asked.
“Sure!”
“And you’ll study hard?”
“Why? You want me to? All right, I will!”
Dixon spent that night wondering and dreaming of who would be foreman of his future household. The next day he spoke to Tommaso:
“Ask me over to the Sons of Italy club tonight, will you?”
[265]
